Fire truck



June 25, 1935. w. s. DARLEY 2,005,990

Filed Jan. 22, 1934 Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in trucks especially adapted for use in extinguishing fires, the primary object of the invention being the provision of an improved construction of 5 this character which is capable of economical production.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction of the character indicated equipped with an emergency or booster tank for carrying an emergency supply of water so constructed and arranged as to be capable of economical inclusion in the truck body and at the same time reinforcing and strengthening the truck body structure.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the combinations and arrangements in parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification and in which Fig. 1 is a partial side view of a fire truck embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of the front portion of the truck body showing the emergency tank in position therein;

Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section through the tank; and

Fig. 4, a transverse section through the same.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing comprises an automobile truck as indicated, having a body member formed from sheet metal bent to form a bottom Ill and integral side walls H.

A front end wall I2 is inserted, as shown, between the side walls II and electrically welded around its edges and bottom to said side and bottom walls, so as to form a water tight joint between them. A partition I3 is inserted transversely between the side Walls H at a suitable distance from the front wall l2 to constitute the rear wall of a tank, the sides and bottom edges of said partition being also electrically welded to the said side and bottom walls of the body to effect a water tight joint between them. A cover member M is inserted, as shown, between the side Walls II, the end wall [2 and the partition l3, the edges of said cover member being also electrically welded to said walls and partition.

As will be noted, the cover member [4 is inserted below the tops of said walls and partition so as to form a filling trough, for filling the tank thus formed.

To this end a suitable opening is formed centrally in the cover member l4 and covered by a perforated plate l5 to act as a strainer or screen for the Water entering the tank. To facilitate filling of the tank, an air tube I8 is extended upwardly from the top thereof through the filling trough, so as to permit the ready escape of air from the tank during the filling operation. A suitable discharge valve I6 is arranged, as shown, leading centrally through the bottom Ill so as to permit of discharge or withdrawal of water from the tank when desired.

Suitable partitions l1 equipped with communicating openings l8 are arranged in the tank to prevent undue splashing or sloshing of the Water therein when the truck is driven at high speed.

In this way an emergency or booster tank is readily provided in the truck body which utilizes the bottom, side, and end walls of the body as the corresponding walls of the tank, thereby greatly reducing the cost of supplying the truck body with such a tank. It is also to be noted that the transverse partition I3 and the inserted cover member [4 greatly strengthen the structure of the truck body at the location of the tank, thereby adequately reinforcing the same to withstand the strain imposed thereon by the additional weight of the water in the emergency tank.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form and arrangement of parts to carry the invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim,

1. A truck body formed from sheet metal bent to constitute integral bottom and side walls; an end wall welded to said bottom and side walls; a partition traversing said body intermediate its ends and at a distance from said end wall and welded to said bottom and side walls to constitute the other end of a tank occupying the full width but only part of the length of said body; a cover member for said tank inserted between and welded to said side walls, end wall and partition below the tops thereof to form a filling trough, there being an opening leading through said cover member into the tank; and a discharge from said tank leading through the bottom of said body.

2. A truck body formed from sheet metal bent to constitute integral bottom and side walls; an end wall welded to said bottom and side walls; a partition traversing said body intermediate its cover member into the tank; a discharge from said tank leading through the bottom of said body; and an air tube communicating with said tank and extending upwardly through said trough, to permit escape of air from the tank 5 during the filling operation.

WILLIAM S. DARLEY. 

